Awakening: Book 1 of the Vanquisher Series [GxG]

29

Early the next morning, when the sun had just risen, Narvari was in Rahsun Forest with Pheera and Yanvirrak. Servin stood before them, a mischievous glint in his silver eyes. Clearly the man did not like wearing shirts.

"So what do you want to talk to us about?" Narvari asked, folding her arms. Servin had made it seem like this was an emergency when he sent for them.

"We are here to train," he said. "Trixan didn't want you kids slacking off while she's gone. She asked me to keep you busy. This is how I'm keeping you busy."

"What do you mean Trixan's gone?" Narvari asked. "Where did she go?"

"Rhodine."

"Rhodine?"

"It's in Agon," said Yanvirrak. "It's the headquarters of the Order. They call it the City of Vanquishers. Very impressive city."

"Yeah, well, you think your stick figure drawings are impressive," said Narvari, "I can't take you seriously."

Yanvirrak grinned. "Don't be jealous because I'm fucking Picasso."

Narvari grimaced. "Oh, god, I never asked about your sex life, Herpes."

"Oh, yeah? And you--"

"Okay, enough, you two," said Servin snapping his fingers. "Jeez, doesn't it get exhausting being around them, Pheera?" 

Pheera gave a small smile. "It's calming, to be honest."

It was? Pheera didn't speak much when she was in a group. She always seemed to be lost in her own thought, as if she was all alone in the world. She opened up more when she was alone with Narvari, something Narvari was truly grateful for. But sometimes, Narvari wished Pheera would trust her enough to talk to her without reservation.

"Today," Servin interrupted her thoughts,  "you begin your elema training."

"Yes." Yanvirrak's dark eyes twinkled.

"About damn time." Narvari huffed.

Pheera simply made the day brighter with that dazzling smile. Everything she did was an art. Hell, Pheera was an art. All one had to do was look at her once and they would they would get lost in her alluring ambiance.  Narvari's lips quirked in an awkward smile when Pheera caught her staring.  She quickly glanced at Servin, ignoring the heat burning in her chest.

"You've already mastered your sacros," said Servin, "And since Trixan doesn't want you repeating Farouk's mistakes, it's best if we started."

"What mistake?" Narvari raised a brow, glancing at Yanvirrak but he only smirked.

"I think of it as a lesson, not a mistake."

"Okay, so what's the lesson?"

"This very lesson, Ex-rookie. Now focus." Servin folded his bulky arms. Then he went right on to his lesson. "You've all seen my wind elema, Hurricane. Just like Hurricane, every elema takes the form of a unique element."

"How did you awaken elema?" asked Narvari. "That's what I want to know."

"Going straight to the point, huh, Ex-Rookie."

Narvari sighed at the new name nickname. At least he was no longer calling her Rookie. It was a promotion.

A tiny vortex of wind appeared on Servin's hand. "There are two methods of awakening elema. One, the difficult but safe way, and two, the easy but dangerous way."

"Hmm." Narvari rubbed her chin. "How easy is it?"

"You should be asking how dangerous it is." Servin's tone hardened. He clasped his palm around the vortex, snuffing it out into nonexistence. "To put it mildly, it's life threatening," he said. "In the best-case scenario, your body will be damaged, taking anywhere between a few days to several years to recover. In the worst-case scenario, you'll be dead." He paused, gazing at each of them as though to let his words sink in. Then his silver eyes pierced through Narvari like a dagger to her chest. "I strongly recommend not to use that method."